Mumbai, Maharashtra - The air here is thick with the scent of street-side bhaji and diesel fumes, a constant hum of life echoing from every corner.
In this bustling metropolis, where smartphones are less a luxury and more a lifeline, the chatter around the new Google Pixel 10 Pro 5G is gaining a new tenor. Google is betting big on AI with this device, and while the official press releases tout features like "Magic Cue" and "Camera Coach," I've been out on the ground, talking to the people who will truly decide if these AI tricks are a help or just another gimmick.
I front-loaded the core leak details: The Pixel 10 Pro 5G is here, with its new Tensor G5 chip, a refreshed design, and a heavy dose of Gemini AI.
The device comes with a free year of Google AI Pro for users, and a host of new features aimed at simplifying day-to-day tasks.
The headlines are all about on-device AI for photo editing, real-time translations, and a "Camera Coach" that guides your shot.
But how does this news resonate on the ground? We went to Mumbai to find out.
On the city's main street, I met Sunil, a local mobile retailer with over two decades of experience.
"Every year, the companies come with a new gimmick.
This year it's AI," he says, wiping down a display case.
"The customer, he wants a phone that works. A phone that takes good photos of his family. He doesn't care about 'Magic Cue' if the battery dies in a day."
Sunil points to a customer checking out a competing device.
"They see the ads, they hear the buzz, but in the end, they ask me, 'Will it last? Is the camera good?' The AI is good for the company's story, but the basics still sell the phone."
Down the road, at a busy taxi stand, I found Harish, an autorickshaw driver who just got a new phone.
This year it's AI," he says, wiping down a display case.
"The customer, he wants a phone that works. A phone that takes good photos of his family. He doesn't care about 'Magic Cue' if the battery dies in a day."
Sunil points to a customer checking out a competing device.
"They see the ads, they hear the buzz, but in the end, they ask me, 'Will it last? Is the camera good?' The AI is good for the company's story, but the basics still sell the phone."
Down the road, at a busy taxi stand, I found Harish, an autorickshaw driver who just got a new phone.
He's heard about the Pixel's AI features.
"AI to talk to people in different languages? That is very good," he says, with a grin.
"I have many foreign tourists. If I can talk to them, I get more rides. I will not use AI to make my photos 'better' or my writing 'more professional.' I am a driver, not a writer. But if it helps me with my work, then maybe it is worth the extra rupees."
In the vibrant campus area, a group of college students are discussing the new Pixel. "The 'Ask Photos' feature is cool, no doubt," says Priya, an engineering student.
"I can just tell the phone to blur the background or remove a person, and it does it.
That's a huge time saver for me when I post on Instagram.
" Her friend, Rohan, is more skeptical. "I already have these features with third-party apps.
"AI to talk to people in different languages? That is very good," he says, with a grin.
"I have many foreign tourists. If I can talk to them, I get more rides. I will not use AI to make my photos 'better' or my writing 'more professional.' I am a driver, not a writer. But if it helps me with my work, then maybe it is worth the extra rupees."
In the vibrant campus area, a group of college students are discussing the new Pixel. "The 'Ask Photos' feature is cool, no doubt," says Priya, an engineering student.
"I can just tell the phone to blur the background or remove a person, and it does it.
That's a huge time saver for me when I post on Instagram.
" Her friend, Rohan, is more skeptical. "I already have these features with third-party apps.
I don't need Google to bake it in. My old phone does it fine.
This is just a new way to get me to pay for the same thing." He pulls out his iPhone, which he says he loves for its seamless ecosystem. "I'm already in this world.
For me, to switch, the Pixel has to offer something truly, mind-blowingly better. An AI photo editor isn't it."
Even in the wealthy suburbs, where luxury cars line the streets, the AI pitch falls on mixed ears. "I've had every iPhone since the 11 Pro," says Vikram, a car owner who works in finance.
He's content with his current iPhone 17 and is not planning to switch to an iPhone 18 just yet. "I use my phone for work, for my family, for everything.
The AI on the iPhone is already so good for what I need, like Siri and the camera.
I don't need a 'Camera Coach' to tell me how to take a photo of my dog. It's a nice thought, but honestly, what's the point? If it's not a quantum leap, it's just a new paint job on the same car."
At a small tea stall in an old neighborhood, I spoke to an elderly couple, Ramesh and Shanti.
This is just a new way to get me to pay for the same thing." He pulls out his iPhone, which he says he loves for its seamless ecosystem. "I'm already in this world.
For me, to switch, the Pixel has to offer something truly, mind-blowingly better. An AI photo editor isn't it."
Even in the wealthy suburbs, where luxury cars line the streets, the AI pitch falls on mixed ears. "I've had every iPhone since the 11 Pro," says Vikram, a car owner who works in finance.
He's content with his current iPhone 17 and is not planning to switch to an iPhone 18 just yet. "I use my phone for work, for my family, for everything.
The AI on the iPhone is already so good for what I need, like Siri and the camera.
I don't need a 'Camera Coach' to tell me how to take a photo of my dog. It's a nice thought, but honestly, what's the point? If it's not a quantum leap, it's just a new paint job on the same car."
At a small tea stall in an old neighborhood, I spoke to an elderly couple, Ramesh and Shanti.
They are not tech enthusiasts, but their son just bought them a new smartphone.
They were excited by the promise of the AI. "Our son says the phone will help us with our shopping list and finding new recipes," Shanti says with a hopeful smile. "Maybe it will help us keep track of our medicines, too. If the AI is easy to use, and not too complicated for an old couple like us, then it is a good thing.
They were excited by the promise of the AI. "Our son says the phone will help us with our shopping list and finding new recipes," Shanti says with a hopeful smile. "Maybe it will help us keep track of our medicines, too. If the AI is easy to use, and not too complicated for an old couple like us, then it is a good thing.
We are not interested in the games or the fast-speed internet. We just want something that helps us in our daily life." You can also see how Oppo’s setup performs in our Find X9 India analysis.
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Here is a video from YouTube about the new Google Pixel 10 Pro.
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL Unboxing & Test
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